Manager, Sensory Quality

Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 98,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work hours

Health benefits from day 1

Employer matched retirement savings

Flexible Spending Account

Employee discount program

Casual dress

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee in Fort Worth, TX seeks a seasoned Sensory Quality Manager to lead our sensory QA lab and roaster calibration program. You will own systematic evaluation of inbound materials, verify roaster profiles, and drive cross-site sensory practices with the Product Development team.

Requirements include 5+ years in sensory quality, and an Undergraduate degree in Food Science. The role offers a comprehensive benefits package and a competitive salary range.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in sensory quality (cupping) required.
• Ability to assess coffee quality objectively using industry standards.
• Designated Q Arabica certification is preferred.
• Degree in Food Science or related field.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and describe tea and coffee sensory profiles for finished goods and raw materials.
• Lead and develop staff in handling raw materials and cupping procedures.
• Approve in-process and finished products by confirming specifications.
• Standardize sensory assessment practices across the business with Product Development.
• Operate and maintain the cupping lab in Fort Worth, TX.
• Meet customer sensory specifications and lead related programs.
• Lead validation of coffee sensory profiles for roasted coffee to optimize quality.
• Implement and sustain a network-wide sensory training program.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and occupational safety standards.

Skills

Sensory cupping

Coffee quality assessment

Team leadership

Q Arabica Certification

Education

Undergraduate degree in Food Science

Job description

Who is Mother Parkers?

We are one of the largest tea and coffee manufacturers in North America, with a mission to create a better beverage experience for our customers. As a leading customer solutions provider to some of North America’s largest retailers and foodservice chains, we use state‑of‑the‑art technology and new product innovation to help our customers grow their business and deliver superior products to their clientele. Our team of coffee and tea experts are deeply passionate about what we do, proud of our 100+ years of business success, and excited about building a future with endless possibilities. Come join our team and work among the best, collaborate with high performers, and contribute to challenging work every day!

The Role

We are looking for a seasoned sensory quality professional to join our Sensory Quality team as a Sensory Quality Manager at our Fort Worth, Texas office. You will be the subject matter expert in coffee & tea sensory evaluation, and network-wide roaster qualifications and calibrations. In this role, you will enable a systematic evaluation of inbound raw materials, verification of roasted product sensory profiles, and customer sensory quality calibration sessions. As well, you will coordinate best practices for roaster qualification and calibration and Sensory Quality lab standards and procedures.

What You Get To Do

• Evaluate and describe tea and coffee sensory profile for both finished goods and raw materials.
• Lead and develop staff in the proper handling of raw materials and finished goods in relation to setting up of a cupping table, conducting raw material and finished good physical and sensory assessments.
• Lead and develop staff to approve in-process and finished products by confirming specifications.
• Partner with Product Development and Commodities to standardize sensory assessment practices and protocol across the business.
• Responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the cupping lab in designated location.
• Ensure that customer specific sensory specifications and requirements are met and lead customer specific sensory quality programs.
• Lead validation of coffee sensory profile for roasted coffee with focus on optimizing sensory profile, yield and capacity.
• Lead, implement and sustain a network wide training program.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety and general occupational safety standards, quality specifications, local and governmental environmental requirements.
• Lead a team of 2 Sensory Quality Technicians – setting team objectives, provide coaching, direction and leadership support.

What You Bring To The Role

• Minimum of 5 years sensory quality (cupping) experience.
• The ability to assess coffee quality objectively – identify, evaluate and articulate the attributes of the coffee, detect any defects, and the coffee characteristics using accepted industry terminology utilizing fundamental knowledge of Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) evaluation standards and protocols.
• Designated Q Arabica (and optional Q Robusta Grader) certification(s) is preferred.
• Undergraduate Degree, preferably in Food Science or similar discipline.
• Experience managing a team of direct reports.

What We Offer You

• Flexible work hours.
• Competitive Total Rewards package – health benefits coverage on day 1, employer matched retirement savings plans, Flexible Spending Account.
• Employee discount program on our coffee and tea products.
• Dress for your day: Come in your casual dress attire every day, unless you have a client meeting.
• Tuition Assistance Program – we value continuous learning and self-development.
• The hiring range for this position is $98,000 to $118,000 annually.

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While Mother Parkers welcomes all applications, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies or search firms. Only those candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be contacted.

Mother Parkers is committed to providing accommodations for persons with disabilities. Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.